Assassin Chapter 19, a star wars fanfic

Chapter Nineteen

The day of the wedding began with a spectacular thunder storm. It unnerved Jobal, who felt certain that it was a bad omen; Padmé thought it rather appropriate, for her relationship with her soon to be husband was tempestuous and exciting, just like the storm.

By noon the storm had passed, taking with it much of the oppressive humidity that had settled in over the past week. The air was fresh as the servants decorated the terrace of the lake retreat for the wedding which was due to take place later that afternoon.

"Are you two going on any sort of honeymoon after the wedding?" Sola asked her sister as she helped Padmé arrange her hair.

"Yes, we're going to Cloud City for a few days," Padmé replied, handing her sister another hair pin.

"Nice," Sola replied. "I hear it's quite beautiful there."

"That's what Ani says," Padmé replied.

"I'm so happy for you, Padmé," Sola said, looking at her sister's reflection in the mirror. "Truly I am. I know Dad has been giving you two a hard time, but I just want you to know that not all of your family objects to this marriage."

Padmé smiled. "Thanks Sola," she replied. "It means a lot to hear that. I've never been so happy."

Sola smiled. "I can see that," she told her. "You're positively glowing."

Padmé looked at her reflection in the mirror. "I guess love does that to a person," she replied.

"It sure does," Sola replied. "I think we're all set," she said, standing back to admire her handiwork. "What do you think?"

Padmé turned her head from side to side, looking at herself in the mirror. "It's perfect," she decided at last. "Thanks, Sola. Dormé herself couldn't have done a better job."

Sola laughed. "High praise!" she said. "Now let's get you into that dress. We don't want to keep your groom waiting."

"No," Padmé agreed as she stood up. "Nor do we want Dad and him to be alone," she added.

"Definitely not," Sola concurred. "I'll get the dress."

Anakin was not the type of man to be nervous, but he found himself becoming anxious as he waited for the wedding to start. It was not that he harbored any doubts about marrying Padmé; he loved her and knew his life without her in it would be empty. Even so, marriage was a big step in a man's life; fatherhood even more so. The fact that he had sensed the existence of he and Padmé's child before she had taken the pregnancy test ought to have prepared him for impending fatherhood; but somehow having his suspicions confirmed had made it seem all the more real to him. And now he was certain that there were two children, twins, a boy and a girl. Suddenly his life was so full; a wife and two children where a mere two months ago he had been all alone. No, not alone. Palpatine had been the closest thing he'd had to a family since he'd left Tatooine. A pathetic statement if ever there was one, he reflected.

Anakin worried that Palpatine would be angry at having not been invited to the wedding. Keeping the ruse going was of the utmost importance. He only hoped that this slight would not tip the Chancellor off to Anakin's true intentions. No doubt Padmé's life would again be endangered should Palpatine sense the duplicity of his apprentice, and that was something Anakin simply could not allow.

"Are we all set?"

Anakin looked over to see the holy man who was dressed in his traditional garb.

"I don't know," he replied. "I'm ready," he added.

"And so is the bride," Jobal said as she and Ruwee joined Anakin. He looked at his soon to be in-laws and nodded his understanding, trying to hide his nervousness. Jobal had to smile at his attempt to do so, and was secretly pleased by it. Somehow it made him less intimidating knowing that he could feel this way.

"You look so handsome, Ani," Shmi said as she joined them as well. She stood before him and smoothed down his collar. "Just look at my grown up son," she said, tears shining in her eyes. "I can hardly believe it."

Anakin smiled and hugged her tightly. "It means a lot that you are here with me today, Mom," he said.

"Now where else would I be?" Shmi asked, knowing what it was that Anakin was referring to. If he had not come to find her when he had, she would undoubtedly have died in the very hut where he had found her. But she didn't want to think about that day, or the many weeks that had preceded it. No, today was a happy day, a day of celebration. Her only son was getting married to the girl of his dreams, and was soon going to be a father. It seems that Fate had decided to smile up on the Chosen One after all. Shmi kissed her son on the cheek and left him, her tears preventing her from saying any more. She walked over and sat down with Jobal as everyone took their places in anticipation for the wedding to start.

Anakin stood beside the holy man, waiting for Padmé to take her place at his side. He didn't have to wait long. Sola's two daughters, Ryoo and Pooja, appeared from the terrace doors, dressed in identical gowns of pale green, each carrying a small nosegay. Anakin smiled when he saw Padmé proceed onto the terrace behind them. She wore a floor length gown of ivory, which was layered with lace. Her hair was piled up on her head, with several tendrils loose around her face. Fresh wildflowers adorned her dark tresses, and served as a simple bouquet. She smiled when she met his eyes.

The ceremony was rather short, for which everyone was grateful, for it had become very hot by this point. It concluded as the holy man joined the hands of the newlyweds and pronounced a blessing over them. Anakin leaned toward his new bride and kissed her softly as the small group of guests clapped.

The wedding was followed by a grand feast served in great style in the retreat's spacious dining room. Much to the relief of all, Ruwee had managed to find it in his heart to accept the marriage, and was almost congenial to his new son-in-law. Almost. As for Padmé, the whole day had gone by so quickly she could hardly believe that she was truly married now. She watched Anakin as he conversed with various members of her family, her heart aching with love for him. At the back of her mind she wondered how her colleagues back on Coruscant would take the news of her wedding to one of the galaxy's most notorious figures. No doubt they would be rather shocked by her sudden marriage- even more so when she became a mother of twins less than a year after her wedding. She decided that she didn't care. She had always worried what others thought of her, and had always been so careful to make a good impression; but no more. Life was too short for such hang-ups, she decided. If they were shocked, then it would be their problem. She had married the man she loved, and that was all that mattered to her now.

It was almost dark when Anakin and Padmé bade goodbye to their families and headed for Theed. Anakin was anxious to have his wife all to himself; the thought of spending even one more night in the vicinity of his father-in-law was simply too much for him. Besides, this would be their wedding night. Anakin did not exactly want his in-laws sleeping down the hall from him and his bride on such a night.

"You looked beautiful today," Anakin told his new wife as they made their way to the space terminal in Theed. "Just like an angel."

Padmé smiled. "I can hardly believe we're truly married," she said. "It seems like a dream."

"It's no dream," he said, bringing her hand up to his mouth and kissing it. "Though I know what you mean."

"How long will it take to get to Bespin?" she asked.

"It's on the Outer Rim," he answered. "So it will be a while. But we have a comfortable vessel to travel in, so the trip shouldn't be too unpleasant."

"We'll be together, that's all that matters," she replied, wrapping her arms around his. "Alone at last."

Anakin nodded. "I can't wait to have you all to myself," he told her. "Without being worried that your parents are lurking nearby."

Padmé laughed. "Well, they will be light years away very soon," she assured him. "And you and I will be alone for five whole days. Can you imagine? What will we do with ourselves?"

"I can't think of a single thing," he replied. "Maybe there's some good races on the holonet we can watch," he teased.

"You're terrible," she said, snuggling closer to him. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Anything you wish," he told her with a grin. "Anything you wish."

Padmé laughed. "You know Ani, I still can't quite believe Palpatine is okay with this," she told him. "I don't trust him, Ani."

"No, neither do I," Anakin agreed. "But if he believes that I married you in order to control you, he will not only accept it, but be pleased about it. He believes that you only married me out of fear," he continued. "You had no choice to marry me in order to save your own life."

Padmé lifted an eyebrow. "Yes, I suppose that works," she conceded. "But you wouldn't necessarily need to marry me in order to control me. Being a Sith, why would you want to marry me? Sith don't love, Anakin."

Anakin shook his head. "No, that's true," he agreed. "But he's known for a while now that I was attracted to you, ever since that night at the ballet."

"So you married me simply out of lust, is that what he thinks?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied. "He will understand that."

Padmé nodded. "So you think that will work?"

Anakin nodded. "Yes, it will work. It will deflect Palpatine's suspicions from us, at least until we can engage the Jedi in our efforts to bring him down. And make no mistake, Angel; I will bring him down."

Padmé nodded. "You will," she told him. "And I will help you."

Anakin sighed, not entirely convinced. Still, he had to try. If he were going to bring Palpatine down, he would need the Jedi on his side. Simply killing the Chancellor of the Republic would only land him in a detention block or worse.

"Ani, what about the babies?" she asked after a moment's hesitation. "Will you tell him about them?"

"No," Anakin replied at once. "He must not know of their existence."

"But…you can't keep them a secret for long," she reminded him. "Sooner or later I will start to show, and then he will know, everyone will."

Yes, that is true, Anakin reflected in frustration. "I won't allow him to harm our children, Padmé," he assured her. "If that is what you are worried about. He will die before he has the chance to do so."

"He wouldn't harm them, would he?" she asked. "Surely not!"

Anakin sighed. "He is a Sith, Padmé," he reminded her. "He is capable of anything."

Padmé felt a shiver go down her spine at his words. She looked down at her abdomen, where her two precious babies were safely growing inside of her. Anakin's babies. "I'm scared," she said quietly.

Anakin turned to her. "You don't need to be," he assured her. "I will not let any harm come to them. Besides, we can probably hide your pregnancy for a while. I can shield them from him. It will be alright, Angel, I promise you."

"I believe you," she replied, knowing he would move galaxies to protect her and their children.

"Good," he said, kissing her hand one again. "Let's not worry about Palpatine any more," he suggested. "This is our honeymoon, Angel. For the next five days I want to think of nothing but you."

She smiled. "That sounds like a marvelous idea," she replied.

"Let's not worry about Palpatine right now," he suggested. "This is our honeymoon, Angel. For the next five days I want to think of nothing but you."

She smiled. "That sounds like a marvelous idea," she replied.